Planning and Housing Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
PH9.1adopted
Proposed Revisions to the Provincial Policy Statement - Preliminary City Comments
On July 22, 2019, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) proposed revisions to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS 2019). The Provincial commenting period runs for 90 days and closes on October 21, 2019. The following report has been prepared by the City Planning Division in consultation with Legal Services, and other divisional partners potentially impacted by the proposed revisions to the PPS. This report highlights the proposed changes to the PPS 2019 and provides preliminary comments on their potential impact on municipal land use planning and the development approval process. The revised PPS, 2019 makes edits in support the current governments "More Homes, More Choice: Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan", as well as a further alignment of the policies with the Growth Plan 2019 and the revised Heritage Act. While no effective date or transition rules for the new policies have been identified, the Planning Act, s.3(5) provides that once approved, all decisions of the council of a municipality, in respect of the exercise of any authority that affects a planning matter, shall be consistent with the PPS. The Province has identified the following top priorities as driving the proposed PPS 2019 changes: - Increasing housing supply - Supporting jobs - Streamlining development approvals In order to address these priorities, the Province has identified the following key policy directions: - Encourage the development of an increased mix and supply of housing - Protect the environment and public safety - Reduce barriers and costs for development and provide greater predictability - Support rural, northern and Indigenous communities - Support the economy and job creation As a component of the consultation on PPS 2019, the Province has asked the following questions: - Do the proposed policies effectively support goals related to increased housing supply, creating and maintaining jobs, and red tape reduction while continuing to protect the environment, farmland, and public health and safety? - Do the proposed policies strike the right balance? Why or why not? - How do these proposed policies take into consideration the views of Ontario's communities? - Are there any policy changes that are needed to support key priorities for housing, job creation, and streamlining of development approvals? - Are there other tools that are needed to help implement the proposed policies? Despite the list of priorities and policy directions, the proposed changes to the PPS are not all encompassing, with no significant changes to Natural Heritage, Cultural Heritage, Transportation, Agricultural or Rural policies. The majority of the changes made are in support of the Province's desire to increase housing supply. There is potential for some of the changes to impact the City's long range forecasting and long range planning work, as well as planning for and providing housing options. Overall the proposed changes should not affect day to day decision making on development applications, rather, the new policy framework may have impacts on long range planning and Official Plan policies.
The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that: 1. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto supports the Province's general directions of the Provincial Policy Statement to promote the efficient use of land and management of infrastructure, transit-supportive development that provides for a range of housing options, a strong economy and job creation and protections of the environment. 2. City Council request the Province to ensure that nothing in the Provincial Policy Statement 2019 precludes or hinders the ability of the three levels of government to deliver on their housing programs. 3. City Council request the Province to modify the Provincial Policy Statement 2019 and supporting legislation to permit the use of inclusionary zoning throughout the entire city rather than limiting it to protected major transit stations areas. 4. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto does not support the proposed policy 1.3.2.5 that would allow employment land conversions to occur in advance of the Municipal Comprehensive Review. 5. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto does not support the proposed revisions to policies with respect to Built Form (1.1.3.6), Phasing (1.1.3.7) and Transportation Infrastructure (1.6.7.2) where the language in the Provincial Policy Statement has been changed from 'shall" to 'should' and recommends the existing wording be maintained. 6. City Council request the Province to more fully consider the implications of the introduction of the principle of Market demand, and Market based need in the Provincial Policy Statement 2019, and the potential for conflict this principle will have on the delivery of the public land use policy framework and process. If the revised policies are maintained, the province should provide guidance, definitions and clarification on the meaning of Market-based need and Market demand, including a methodology for how these terms will be calculated and applied. 7. City Council request the Province to confirm if, and when a revised Land Needs Methodology will be released, and to withhold the proposed Provincial Policy Statement policies that direct or modify that process until municipalities have had an opportunity to comment on the revised methodology. 8. City Council request the Province to modify the policy and its inclusion of potential air rights development to ensure the safety of the rail corridors and adjacent lands are paramount. 9. City Council request the Province to address inconsistency in definitions amongst provincial planning policy documents (where applicable) or failing this add a policy to the Provincial Policy Statement to indicate which definition has primacy. 10. City Council request the Province to enable the use of Zoning with Conditions as permitted under section 113 (2) of the City of Toronto Act 2006 by passing a regulation under sections 122.1 to allow the City to better deliver on the Provinces' stated objectives regarding the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. 11. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward this report to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as the City of Toronto's submission to the Province on the Provincial Policy Statement and the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that: 1. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto supports the Province's general directions of the Provincial Policy Statement to promote the efficient use of land and management of infrastructure, transit-supportive development that provides for a range of housing options, a strong economy and job creation and protections of the environment. 2. City Council request the Province to ensure that nothing in the Provincial Policy Statement 2019 precludes or hinders the ability of the three levels of government to deliver on their housing programs. 3. City Council request the Province to modify the Provincial Policy Statement 2019 and supporting legislation to permit the use of inclusionary zoning throughout the entire city rather than limiting it to protected major transit stations areas. 4. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto does not support the proposed policy 1.3.2.5 that would allow employment land conversions to occur in advance of the Municipal Comprehensive Review. 5. City Council advise the Province that the City of Toronto does not support the proposed revisions to policies with respect to Built Form (1.1.3.6), Phasing (1.1.3.7) and Transportation Infrastructure (1.6.7.2) where the language in the Provincial Policy Statement has been changed from 'shall" to 'should' and recommends the existing wording be maintained. 6. City Council request the Province to more fully consider the implications of the introduction of the principle of Market demand, and Market based need in the Provincial Policy Statement 2019, and the potential for conflict this principle will have on the delivery of the public land use policy framework and process. If the revised policies are maintained, the province should provide guidance, definitions and clarification on the meaning of Market-based need and Market demand, including a methodology for how these terms will be calculated and applied. 7. City Council request the Province to confirm if, and when a revised Land Needs Methodology will be released, and to withhold the proposed Provincial Policy Statement policies that direct or modify that process until municipalities have had an opportunity to comment on the revised methodology. 8. City Council request the Province to modify the policy and its inclusion of potential air rights development to ensure the safety of the rail corridors and adjacent lands are paramount. 9. City Council request the Province to address inconsistency in definitions amongst provincial planning policy documents (where applicable) or failing this add a policy to the Provincial Policy Statement to indicate which definition has primacy. 10. City Council request the Province to enable the use of Zoning with Conditions as permitted under section 113 (2) of the City of Toronto Act 2006 by passing a regulation under sections 122.1 to allow the City to better deliver on the Provinces' stated objectives regarding the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. 11. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward this report to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as the City of Toronto's submission to the Province on the Provincial Policy Statement and the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting.
PH9.2amended
Growth Plan (2019) and Municipal Comprehensive Review / Conformity Exercise Requirements
On May 16, 2019, the Province brought into effect A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019 ("Growth Plan (2019)"), for which all planning matters are required to conform. This new Growth Plan replaces the previous Growth Plan (2017). The Places to Grow Act, 2005 requires that official plans must be amended to conform to the Growth Plan by a specified time period. In 2017, the Minister of Municipal Affairs directed that by July 1, 2022 official plans be brought into conformity with the previous Growth Plan (2017). With the release of the new plan in May 2019, a new conformity date was not set. It is staff's understanding that the City's Official Plan must be brought into conformity by July 1, 2022. This report highlights the policy areas contained within the Growth Plan (2019) that will be addressed through a Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR). Staff will report in the first quarter of 2020 to the Planning and Housing Committee on a detailed work program, resources and the associated timing for completion of the next MCR.
The Planning and Housing Committee: 1. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report in the first quarter of 2020 to the Planning and Housing Committee on a work program and associated timing for the completion of the required Growth Plan conformity exercise. 2. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to include in the work plan report back on the required Growth Plan conformity exercise a review of Official Plan policies relating to improved design standards under the policy area four: "developing environmental policies". 3. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to prioritize the study of the Keele-St. Clair area including lands around McCormack Street where lands are designated as Employment Areas and are not identified as a Provincially Significant Employment Zone as part of the upcoming review in order to enable the potential unlocking of the lands in the vicinity of the Smart Track/GO Kitchener line and planned station located in the area of these lands.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that: 1. Planning and Housing Committee request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report in the first quarter of 2020 to the Planning and Housing Committee on a work program and associated timing for the completion of the required Growth Plan conformity exercise.
PH9.3amended
Temporary signs are regulated by the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693. This report proposes amendments to modernize the By-law to improve enforcement, respond to the use of new sign types in Toronto, and increase the By-law's overall readability. Election signs, posters on public property, and signs regulated under the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General were not part of this review. This report recommends improving the pedestrian clearway by updating placement requirements for A-frame and Portable signs. It is proposed that these signs be placed curb-side and in-line with other street furniture, where possible. The existing 2.1 metre pedestrian clearway requirement would be maintained and expanded to 2.5 metres on specified Downtown Toronto streets to align with the newly-enacted Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. These changes are intended to improve the line-of-travel for pedestrians while allowing the business community to continue to use A-frame and Portable signs. This report also proposes allowing and regulating three new types of temporary signs on private property: Contracted Services Signs, Home Builder Identification Signs, and Advocacy Signs. The proposed regulations for Contracted Services Signs and Home Builder Identification Signs limit the size, number, and display period for these sign types and respond to their use in Toronto. The recommendations also clarify the City's expectations for signage on construction sites, supporting the objectives of the City's Residential Infill Strategy to minimize the impacts of residential construction activity on existing neighbourhoods. The proposed regulations for Advocacy Signs balance the ability of Toronto residents to display content related to civic causes with the need to consider the safety and neighbourhood impacts of these signs. Further amendments are recommended that would modernize the By-law, improve enforcement, and simplify regulations. These include: - Updating regulations for Mobile Signs (i.e. those designed to allow for the rearrangement of lettering, typically on steel frames) and Open House Signs; - Updating the removal and disposal provisions, except for election signs, including deleting the mandatory 30-day storage period and allowing for the timely disposal of unlawful temporary signs; and - Updating and clarifying fees, and aligning enforcement, fine, and offence provisions with the authority provided under the City of Toronto Act, 2006. This report also responds to two City Council directives requesting a report on enforcement and regulatory options available for signs containing graphic images. Legal Services, Toronto Building, Toronto Transit Commission, and Transportation Services were consulted in the preparation of this report.
The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that: Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs Placement Requirements for A-Frame and Portable Signs 1. City Council amend Chapter 693 to require that, when located on public property, A-frame and portable signs must be placed curb-side and in the Furnishing and Planting Zone, as described by the City of Toronto's Streetscape Manual, whenever possible and adhere to any separation distances established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 2. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include minimum separation distances, as established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for A-frame and portable signs from installations such as bicycle rings, fire hydrants or fire connections, intersection or pedestrian crossovers, postering columns, benches, garbage/recycling bins, and transit stops and shelters as a location requirement. 3. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include that an A-frame or portable sign may be moved or removed: a. If location requirements are not met; b. If space is required by the City of Toronto, including for the installation of street furniture, construction, or other municipal purposes; or c. If space is required by the Toronto Transit Commission, including for operational or public safety reasons. 4. City Council amend Chapter 693 to increase the pedestrian clearway requirement to 2.5 metres for streets identified in Appendix A of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. 5. City Council amend Chapter 693 to specify that the sign permit identifiers on A-frame and portable signs must be visible and attached to the exterior upper corner of one of the sign faces. 6. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align portable sign regulations with existing A-frame sign regulations by specifying that portable signs also cannot be displayed or erected along the right-of-way areas along Bloor Street East and Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Sherbourne Street, or along Yonge Street south of Davenport Road. 7. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align portable sign regulations with existing A-frame sign regulations by specifying that: a. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is 6.1 metres or less, a maximum of one portable sign per building may be displayed regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; b. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is more than 6.1 metres, display a maximum of two portable signs per premises regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; and c. Despite 7a. and 7b., if a building is on a corner property with two or more walls adjacent to a highway, one additional portable sign may be displayed adjacent to the side wall of the building. Contracted Services Signs 8. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Contracted Services Signs". 9. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define a Contracted Services Sign as "a sign advertising a contractor who repairs, renovates or landscapes a premise." 10. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Contracted Services Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per contractor is allowed. b. There cannot be more than three signs per property. c. No permit is required. d. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. e. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the erection of the sign. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). g. The sign can only display content related to a contracted service underway or completed at the property. h. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 0.37 square metres in area. i. The sign cannot exceed a maximum height of 0.61 metres or a maximum width of 0.61 metres. j. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. k. The sign may only be displayed once the contracted service has begun and must be removed within 30 days after the work has been complete. Home Builder Identification Signs 11. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Home Builder Identification Signs". 12. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define a Home Builder Identification Sign as "a sign identifying the builder or renovator involved in the renovation or construction of a residential building or related structure." 13. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Home Builder Identification Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per property is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the sign is erected. e. The sign can only display information related to the builder or renovator responsible for undertaking work at a residential building or related structure. f. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.5 square metres in area. g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. h. The sign may only be displayed once the work has begun and must be removed within 30 days after occupancy has been granted by Toronto Building or passed an interior final inspection. i. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Advocacy Signs 14. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Advocacy Signs". 15. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define an Advocacy Sign as "a sign that advances a point of view and is not for a commercial purpose, not including an election sign." 16. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Advocacy Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per premise is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the premise is required before the erection of the sign. e. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.2 square metres in area. f. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. g. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Open House Signs 17. City Council amend Chapter 693 to allow open house signs to be displayed up to 2 hours before the start of the open house and 2 hours after the end of the open house. 18. City Council amend Chapter 693 to state that there may be no more than six open house signs per advertised property. Mobile Signs 19. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the requirement that mobile signs may only have black and white lettering. 20. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the requirement that mobile signs be located directly in front of the business that the sign is advertising and instead specify that the sign must be on the property in which the business is located. Construction Hoarding Signs 21. City Council amend Chapter 693 to move the provisions governing construction hoarding signs from Article III to the Article that includes vehicular destination signs and neighbourhood and business area identification signs; sign types which are administered by the General Manager, Transportation Services. Alignment with Chapter 742, Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays 22. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include the prohibition in Chapter 742 (742-8.5) on an A-frame or portable sign being displayed where a small frontage café or small marketing display has been installed and the building frontage is 6-metres or less. 23. City Council amend Chapter 693 to specify that a business that has a permit for a café or marketing display may locate an A-frame or portable sign only within the limits of the permitted area and must have a permit issued under Chapter 693 for the sign. Sign Storage 24. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the required storage period for all signs, except election signs, and update the removal and disposal provisions accordingly. Administrative Matters 25. City Council rename Chapter 693 to be "Signs, Election and Temporary". 26. City Council include in the general restrictions section of Chapter 693 that signs regulated by Chapter 693 must not damage underground or aboveground services. 27. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align regulations for temporary signs by requiring that, except in accordance with a sign permit, they be no closer than 0.30 metres from a sidewalk or where there is no sidewalk, 0.30 metres from the travelled portion of the highway, and direct that this provision be included in the location requirements for all temporary signs in the amended Chapter. 28. City Council amend Chapter 693 to: a. Increase the maximum fine to $100,000; b. Add a special fine in an amount equal to any economic gain obtained from non-compliance; c. Include offences for obstruction and failure to provide information as required; d. Designate each offence as a continuing offence with a maximum daily fine of $10,000 and a total fine which may exceed $100,000; and e. Include authority to enter to inspect, to make orders to comply and to take remedial action. 29. City Council add the following transition provisions to Chapter 693 to establish that: a. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to permits granted or agreements entered into before January 6, 2020 until the permits or agreements are renewed, provided that the holders of the permits and parties to the agreements continue to comply with the terms of their permits or agreements and that the permits or agreements are not revoked or terminated and do not expire without renewal; and b. All prosecutions and other enforcement processes commenced under this chapter which have not been completed on January 6, 2020 shall be completed as if the chapter had not been amended on that date. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General 30. City Council repeal section 694-6A(6) of Chapter 694, Signs, General, removing signs affiliated with the ongoing construction or demolition of a building as this sign type will be regulated as a Home Builder Identification Sign under Chapter 693. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees 31. City Council amend Chapter 441 to delete fees unique to each sign type (reference numbers 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 136) so that the removal, retrieval, storage, and disposal fees for temporary signs be used for all forms of temporary signs (reference numbers 137, 138, 139, 140). 32. City Council amend Chapter 441 to update and include an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index fees related to temporary signs, as outlined in Table 1. Table 1: Recommended updates to fees 137, 138, 139, and 140 in Chapter 441, Fees NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2019 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. 137 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Removal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $100.00 NEW Yes 138 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Retrieval fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $200.00 NEW Yes 139 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Storage fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery NEW Per Day $15.00 NEW Yes 140 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Disposal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $50.00 NEW Yes 33. City Council amend Chapter 441 to delete fee 414 (Annual fee: temporary signs permit - portable) and establish two new fees for the application and renewal of portable sign permits that are identical to that of A-frame sign permits, as outlined in Table 2. Table 2: Recommended new 2019 portable sign-related fees in Chapter 441, Fees NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2019 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. NEW Business Permitting Application fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $109.66 Yes NEW Business Permitting Renewal fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $86.57 Yes Implementation 34. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, City Clerk, and Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to re-structure, consolidate, and simplify all existing requirements to improve the readability of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693 including adding a section setting out the scope of the by-law, consolidating the general restrictions that apply to all signs and setting out more clearly the location requirements, and specific requirements that apply to all sign types, including attachment requirements, and to update Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 192, Public Service, Chapter 545, Licensing, Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of to the reflect the new title of and new section numbers in Chapter 693, as required. 35. City Council direct that the changes to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Chapter 441, Chapter 693, and Chapter 694 become effective as of January 6, 2020. That : 36. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2020 on: a. A strategy for regulating the use of graphic images, including discretionary powers of by-law enforcement staff, necessary legislative changes from other orders of government, and other recommendations as necessary to protect the public from harm through graphic images in particular of medical procedures: and, b. Options for improving enforcement of Chapter 693, including opportunities for citizen enforcement and similar approaches used in other Ontario jurisdictions. 37. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2020 with a review on the effectiveness of the new restriction for Open house signs.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards recommends that: Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693, Signs Placement Requirements for A-Frame and Portable Signs 1. City Council amend Chapter 693 to require that, when located on public property, A-frame and portable signs must be placed curb-side and in the Furnishing and Planting Zone, as described by the City of Toronto's Streetscape Manual, whenever possible and adhere to any separation distances established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards. 2. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include minimum separation distances, as established by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for A-frame and portable signs from installations such as bicycle rings, fire hydrants or fire connections, intersection or pedestrian crossovers, postering columns, benches, garbage/recycling bins, and transit stops and shelters as a location requirement. 3. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include that an A-frame or portable sign may be moved or removed: a. If location requirements are not met; b. If space is required by the City of Toronto, including for the installation of street furniture, construction, or other municipal purposes; or c. If space is required by the Toronto Transit Commission, including for operational or public safety reasons. 4. City Council amend Chapter 693 to increase the pedestrian clearway requirement to 2.5 metres for streets identified in Appendix A of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays. 5. City Council amend Chapter 693 to specify that the sign permit identifiers on A-frame and portable signs must be visible and attached to the exterior upper corner of one of the sign faces. 6. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align portable sign regulations with existing A-frame sign regulations by specifying that portable signs also cannot be displayed or erected along the right-of-way areas along Bloor Street East and Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Sherbourne Street, or along Yonge Street south of Davenport Road. 7. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align portable sign regulations with existing A-frame sign regulations by specifying that: a. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is 6.1 metres or less, a maximum of one portable sign per building may be displayed regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; b. Where the frontage associated with the main, front wall of a building is more than 6.1 metres, display a maximum of two portable signs per premises regardless of the number of businesses in the premises; and c. Despite 7a. and 7b., if a building is on a corner property with two or more walls adjacent to a highway, one additional portable sign may be displayed adjacent to the side wall of the building. Contracted Services Signs 8. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Contracted Services Signs". 9. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define a Contracted Services Sign as "a sign advertising a contractor who repairs, renovates or landscapes a premise." 10. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Contracted Services Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per contractor is allowed. b. There cannot be more than three signs per property. c. No permit is required. d. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. e. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the erection of the sign. f. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). g. The sign can only display content related to a contracted service underway or completed at the property. h. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 0.37 square metres in area. i. The sign cannot exceed a maximum height of 0.61 metres or a maximum width of 0.61 metres. j. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. k. The sign may only be displayed once the contracted service has begun and must be removed within 30 days after the work has been complete. Home Builder Identification Signs 11. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Home Builder Identification Signs". 12. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define a Home Builder Identification Sign as "a sign identifying the builder or renovator involved in the renovation or construction of a residential building or related structure." 13. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Home Builder Identification Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per property is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the property is required before the sign is erected. e. The sign can only display information related to the builder or renovator responsible for undertaking work at a residential building or related structure. f. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.5 square metres in area. g. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. h. The sign may only be displayed once the work has begun and must be removed within 30 days after occupancy has been granted by Toronto Building or passed an interior final inspection. i. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Advocacy Signs 14. City Council amend Chapter 693 to establish a new temporary sign type, called "Advocacy Signs". 15. City Council amend Chapter 693 to define an Advocacy Sign as "a sign that advances a point of view and is not for a commercial purpose, not including an election sign." 16. City Council amend Chapter 693 to direct that, in addition to complying with the general restrictions in the new Article 1 that apply to all signs and the regulations that apply to all temporary signs, Advocacy Signs must adhere to the following: a. Only one sign per premise is allowed. b. No permit is required. c. The sign must be erected entirely on private property. d. Consent of the owner or occupant of the premise is required before the erection of the sign. e. The sign may have no more than two sign faces and no sign face can be larger than 1.2 square metres in area. f. The sign cannot be higher than two metres above grade. g. The sign may only be attached to a stake or fence (not including a fence that is vegetation). Open House Signs 17. City Council amend Chapter 693 to allow open house signs to be displayed up to 2 hours before the start of the open house and 2 hours after the end of the open house. 18. City Council amend Chapter 693 to state that there may be no more than six open house signs per advertised property. Mobile Signs 19. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the requirement that mobile signs may only have black and white lettering. 20. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the requirement that mobile signs be located directly in front of the business that the sign is advertising and instead specify that the sign must be on the property in which the business is located. Construction Hoarding Signs 21. City Council amend Chapter 693 to move the provisions governing construction hoarding signs from Article III to the Article that includes vehicular destination signs and neighbourhood and business area identification signs; sign types which are administered by the General Manager, Transportation Services. Alignment with Chapter 742, Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays 22. City Council amend Chapter 693 to include the prohibition in Chapter 742 (742-8.5) on an A-frame or portable sign being displayed where a small frontage café or small marketing display has been installed and the building frontage is 6-metres or less. 23. City Council amend Chapter 693 to specify that a business that has a permit for a café or marketing display may locate an A-frame or portable sign only within the limits of the permitted area and must have a permit issued under Chapter 693 for the sign. Sign Storage 24. City Council amend Chapter 693 to remove the required storage period for all signs, except election signs, and update the removal and disposal provisions accordingly. Administrative Matters 25. City Council rename Chapter 693 to be "Signs, Election and Temporary". 26. City Council include in the general restrictions section of Chapter 693 that signs regulated by Chapter 693 must not damage underground or aboveground services. 27. City Council amend Chapter 693 to align regulations for temporary signs by requiring that, except in accordance with a sign permit, they be no closer than 0.30 metres from a sidewalk or where there is no sidewalk, 0.30 metres from the travelled portion of the highway, and direct that this provision be included in the location requirements for all temporary signs in the amended Chapter. 28. City Council amend Chapter 693 to: a. Increase the maximum fine to $100,000; b. Add a special fine in an amount equal to any economic gain obtained from non-compliance; c. Include offences for obstruction and failure to provide information as required; d. Designate each offence as a continuing offence with a maximum daily fine of $10,000 and a total fine which may exceed $100,000; and e. Include authority to enter to inspect, to make orders to comply and to take remedial action. 29. City Council add the following transition provisions to Chapter 693 to establish that: a. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to permits granted or agreements entered into before January 6, 2020 until the permits or agreements are renewed, provided that the holders of the permits and parties to the agreements continue to comply with the terms of their permits or agreements and that the permits or agreements are not revoked or terminated and do not expire without renewal; and b. All prosecutions and other enforcement processes commenced under this chapter which have not been completed on January 6, 2020 shall be completed as if the chapter had not been amended on that date. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General 30. City Council repeal section 694-6A(6) of Chapter 694, Signs, General, removing signs affiliated with the ongoing construction or demolition of a building as this sign type will be regulated as a Home Builder Identification Sign under Chapter 693. Amendments to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees 31. City Council amend Chapter 441 to delete fees unique to each sign type (reference numbers 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, and 136) so that the removal, retrieval, storage, and disposal fees for temporary signs be used for all forms of temporary signs (reference numbers 137, 138, 139, 140). 32. City Council amend Chapter 441 to update and include an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index fees related to temporary signs, as outlined in Table 1. Table 1: Recommended updates to fees 137, 138, 139, and 140 in Chapter 441, Fees NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2019 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. 137 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Removal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $100.00 NEW Yes 138 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Retrieval fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $200.00 NEW Yes 139 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Storage fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery NEW Per Day $15.00 NEW Yes 140 NEW Prop Std/insp /Enfo Disposal fee for Illegal Temporary Signs Full Cost Recovery Case $50.00 NEW Yes 33. City Council amend Chapter 441 to delete fee 414 (Annual fee: temporary signs permit - portable) and establish two new fees for the application and renewal of portable sign permits that are identical to that of A-frame sign permits, as outlined in Table 2. Table 2: Recommended new 2019 portable sign-related fees in Chapter 441, Fees NO. SERVICE FEE DESCRIPTION CATEGORY FEE BASIS 2019 FEE ANNUAL ADJ. NEW Business Permitting Application fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $109.66 Yes NEW Business Permitting Renewal fee: Temporary Sign permit - Portable Full Cost Recovery Per application $86.57 Yes Implementation 34. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, City Clerk, and Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to re-structure, consolidate, and simplify all existing requirements to improve the readability of the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 693 including adding a section setting out the scope of the by-law, consolidating the general restrictions that apply to all signs and setting out more clearly the location requirements, and specific requirements that apply to all sign types, including attachment requirements, and to update Chapter 27, Council Procedures, Chapter 192, Public Service, Chapter 545, Licensing, Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of to the reflect the new title of and new section numbers in Chapter 693, as required. 35. City Council direct that the changes to the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Chapter 441, Chapter 693, and Chapter 694 become effective as of January 6, 2020.
PH9.4adopted
Focusing on Building Design Improvements
Toronto is a global centre for architectural, planning and design talent. However, the city hasn't always tapped into these vast resources as effectively as we could. With these initiatives and several others I am interested in pursing, I hope to unlock and activate architects, landscape architects, planners and students in these disciplines to help build a more beautiful and engaging city. This summer, my office along with Deputy Mayor Bailão and Councillor Bradford hosted a meeting of international talent from the development, architecture and planning communities to help generate ideas to shape a city we can be proud of. We learned from this meeting that we must consider design in our policy development and procurement and, employ open and transparent competitions whenever possible. The international design competition for the Etobicoke Civic Centre and the Design Review Panel were pointed to as an examples of where the city got it right. With these recommendations in this letter I hope we can expand on our successes and build a culture within the City that embraces the best this city and the world have to offer. The Design Review Panel represents some of Toronto's leading designers, architects and landscape architects who volunteer their time to help guide significant developments in our city. We must review the Panel's mandate and give the experts on the panel a chance to regularly report publically so that we can learn from their expert opinions. Finally, we know that we must look for ways to add density to low-rise residential areas in a way that will enhance neighbourhoods and be embraced by neighbours. To do this effectively we have to ensure new zoning regulations and guidelines are aesthetically exciting as well as functional. I am calling for an open ideas competition to gather the ideas from the public and particularly students, young designers and experts to help us shape the new, more permissive policies Council will consider.
The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that: 1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning include in its upcoming report to the Planning and Housing Committee on the Missing Middle, a plan for a public design competition in order to solicit ideas that could help shape policies for more permissive zoning in areas designated as neighbourhoods in Toronto's Official Plan. 2. City Council request the Board of CreateTO work with the CEO of CreateTO in order to employ open and international design competitions for major and transformational projects in which it is the lead developer. 3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, as part of existing and ongoing consultations in recently developed higher density neighbourhoods, include questions that solicit feedback on the cumulative impact of design guidelines and policies on the daily lives of residents. 4. City Council invite the Chair of the Design Review Panel to provide an annual letter to Planning and Housing Committee to summarize any relevant observations, suggestions and themes in the applications the panel has reviewed. 5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to work with the Chair of the Design Review Panel to review the mandate of the panel and make recommendations for revision, and report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2021.
Staff recommendation as filed
Mayor John Tory recommends to the Planning and Housing Committee that: 1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning include in its upcoming report to the Planning and Housing Committee on the Missing Middle, a plan for a public design competition in order to solicit ideas that could help shape policies for more permissive zoning in areas designated as neighbourhoods in Toronto's Official Plan. 2. City Council request the Board of CreateTO work with the CEO of CreateTO in order to employ open and international design competitions for major and transformational projects in which it is the lead developer. 3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, as part of existing and ongoing consultations in recently developed higher density neighbourhoods, include questions that solicit feedback on the cumulative impact of design guidelines and policies on the daily lives of residents. 4. City Council invite the Chair of the Design Review Panel to provide an annual letter to Planning and Housing Committee to summarize any relevant observations, suggestions and themes in the applications the panel has reviewed. 5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to work with the Chair of the Design Review Panel to review the mandate of the panel and make recommendations for revision, and report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2021.
PH9.5amended
Developing a Toronto Laneway Strategy
As Toronto evolves, we must ensure that our built fabric is doing all it can do to ensure a vibrant, livable and affordable city. Our city's network of laneways was designed to provide midblock service access to properties - an important role, and one which can be strategically expanded to enable these spaces to fully serve our growing and intensifying neighbourhoods. The role of our laneways is already changing, with recent policy developments such as the Changing Lanes bylaw changes, an increase in laneway-facing units in the podia of new buildings, and increasing attention to the spaces from property owners, BIAs and Residents' Associations. If the City of Toronto is to take an active role in ensuring that our laneways evolve with the changing city and serve neighbourhoods throughout Toronto, rather than only in an ad-hoc way where development projects are concentrated, a concurrent update of the City's policies, procedures and guidelines pertaining to the spaces is required. To inform these updates, we must develop a Toronto Laneway Strategy that analyses the use patterns, functions and physical context of today's laneways and suggests strategic updates to maintenance and servicing standards, safety measures, laneway frontage guidelines and standards, stormwater management measures, and traffic planning and management measures, and lays out policy changes to ensure that laneways are able to meet the multi-modal access, servicing, circulation, green infrastructural, and social use needs of our neighbourhoods both today and tomorrow.
That Planning and Housing Committee: 1. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, and other relevant divisions develop a Toronto Laneway Strategy that analyses the use patterns, functions and physical context of today's laneways and suggests strategic updates to maintenance and servicing standards, safety measures, laneway frontage guidelines and standards, storm water management measures, and traffic planning and management including meeting the multi-modal access, servicing, circulation, and social use needs of their neighbourhoods, and report back to the Planning and Housing Committee with a status update by the end of 2020.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Ana Bailão and Councillor Mike Layton recommend to the Planning and Housing Committee: 1. That the Chief Planner and Executive Director, Planning Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the General Manager, Toronto Water, and other relevant divisions develop a Toronto Laneway Strategy that analyses the use patterns, functions and physical context of today's laneways and suggests strategic updates to maintenance and servicing standards, safety measures, laneway frontage guidelines and standards, storm water management measures, and traffic planning and management including meeting the multi-modal access, servicing, circulation, and social use needs of their neighbourhoods, and report back to the Planning and Housing Committee with a status update by the end of 2020.
PH9.6adopted
The effort to protect and preserve Toronto's live music venue gained prominence in late 2016 and early 2017 with the news of a number of venue closures. Music venues, including live music venues contribute to the vibrancy of Toronto's downtown and main streets. Live music venues operate under a variety of terms in both zoning and licensing by-laws, which reflects the diverse nature of the industry. However, this has led to some ambiguity in interpretation and enforcement, with resulting uncertainty for business operators and residents. To enable music venues to continue to thrive in Toronto, and further to Council's direction at its meeting dated May 22-24, 2018 respecting PG29.4, Parts 22, 23 and 24, I would request that staff review business licensing requirements, Official Plan policies, and Zoning By-law permissions and definitions related to live music venues and report to Council in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The Planning and Housing Committee: 1. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Chief Building Official, Toronto Building to undertake a review of the business licensing requirements, Official Plan policies, and Zoning By-law permissions and definitions related to live music venues, including size, locational performance standards, and potential amendments, and consult with the Toronto Music Advisory Committee and report back with recommendations in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Ana Bailão recommends that: 1. The Planning and Housing Committee request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Chief Building Official, Toronto Building to undertake a review of the business licensing requirements, Official Plan policies, and Zoning By-law permissions and definitions related to live music venues, including size, locational performance standards, and potential amendments, and consult with the Toronto Music Advisory Committee and report back with recommendations in the fourth quarter of, 2020.
PH9.7adopted
Affordable Housing Opportunities
I am deeply concerned that many of my residents are being displaced or priced out of the rental market because of development pressures and renovictions. Too often, they are being forced to move further away from the services that we have all worked so hard to provide. And worse, the inclusive community they have created with bonds of friendship and mutual support is fracturing. There are many co-ops and other great non-profit housing developers, like WoodGreen, who have led on the building of affordable housing in Toronto's east end. However, with land prices and development pressures, the sites which have been available and affordable in the past have pretty well dried up. There is strong support for the building of more affordable housing in Toronto. I would like to have your support for a creative approach that has worked successfully to house the Red Door Shelter within the Harhay Condominium on Queen East and to look for opportunities to replicate this in Ward 14. The Harhay/Red Door project has demonstrated that a development can maintain and enhance the community and that built form can be effectively used for social purpose. The shelter space which is being built by the developer will be owned by the city and was secured with a contribution of funds from the city as well as a city initiated OPA amendment to add an extra floor for this purpose and for this purpose only. I believe it is time for the city to build on the successful innovation demonstrated in developing the Red Door family shelter. In this regard there are opportunities where proactive planning policies combined with the City's Open Door Program can support achieving much needed new affordable rental housing. Such an approach would go a long way in meeting Ward 14 resident's strong desire to protect the diverse and inclusive communities they have built in the face of relentless development pressures would be respected.
The Planning and Housing Committee: 1. Requested the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back on December 10, 2019 on opportunities to secure new affordable rental housing within proposed developments, and consider options such as: a. the provision of city financial and funding incentives through the City's Open Door Program, including the lease or sale of City property; b. the use of an OPA where appropriate for a city building purpose; and c. provide greater focus on the provision of affordable rental housing in future planning studies.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Paula Fletcher recommends that: 1. The Planning and Housing Committee request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back on December 10, 2019 on opportunities to secure new affordable rental housing within proposed developments, and consider options such as: a. the provision of city financial and funding incentives through the City's Open Door Program, including the lease or sale of City property; b. the use of an OPA where appropriate for a city building purpose; and c. provide greater focus on the provision of affordable rental housing in future planning studies.